Radiation protection arrangement comprising a separable cover

ABSTRACT

The invention related to a radiation protection arrangement for screening radiation emitted from a radiation source, especially an x-ray source. Said arrangement is provided with a screening element consisting of, or comprising, a radiation protection material, and a cover, which fully surrounds the screening element. Said cover can be pulled over the screening element and completely separated from the same. As the cover can be changed, the radiation protection arrangement can be kept clean and sterile in a simple manner.

The present invention relates to a radiation protection arrangement, inparticular an arrangement for screening the X-rays emitted by an X-raysource, which is provided for example for use at an angiographicworkstation.

To keep the radiation exposure caused by X-ray examinations as low aspossible for those persons involved, it has long been known to useclothing for protection against radiation. A two-part garment forprotection against radiation which is known for example from U.S. Pat.No. 4,196,355 comprises a vest for protecting the upper body and a skirtfor protecting the lower body, the vest and skirt including orcomprising a material which screens X-rays. The persons responsible fortaking X-rays, for example the doctor or an assistant, wear the vest andskirt during the examinations so that they are protected from theX-rays.

Although the known clothing for protection against radiation offers avery effective protection against excessive exposure to radiation insome cases, at angiographic workstations, as they are called, theprotection which can be achieved with them is not adequate. Theradiation exposure to personnel carrying out the procedure isparticularly high at a workstation of this kind as a result of themultidirectional nature of the radiation, so merely wearing clothing forprotection against X-rays cannot ensure the best possible radiationprotection. Accordingly, appropriate additional devices for minimizingthe exposure to radiation are required.

The duty of minimization laid down by the German Radiological ProtectionOrdinance in this context provides that the dose limit values should notonly be observed but as far as possible should not even be reached. Itis therefore known to use what are called lower body protectionarrangements which are arranged to the side of the table on which thepatient lies. In a simple construction, a lower body protection systemof this kind comprises a screening blanket in the form of a lead rubberblanket or lead sheet which is encased in PVC and has a lead equivalencevalue of 0.5 mm which reaches from the level of the table to the floorand protects the lower extremities of the personnel carrying out theprocedure, which are not covered by the clothing for protection againstX-rays, from scattered radiation. In this case, the lead equivalencevalue describes the absorption behavior of a body, in particular alaminate, which provides the same screening from X-rays as a lead panelof that thickness. A material having a lead equivalence value of 0.5 mmtherefore corresponds to screening with lead which is 0.5 mm thick.

In a particular construction, the lower body protection arrangementdescribed above comprises a plurality of PVC lead rubber slats which arearranged laterally next to one another and at least partly overlapping.Moreover, to optimize the radiation protection, what are calledradiation protection panels are used, which are arranged in the upperregion of the treatment station and protect the head and upper body ofthe personnel carrying out the procedure, in particular their eyes,thyroid gland and acromioclavicular joint. On the underside of radiationprotection panels of this kind, additional PVC lead rubber blankets mayalso be arranged to further improve the screening.

When the lower body protection arrangements described above are used, itmust be taken into account that these systems are frequentlycontaminated during use with bodily fluids, contrast media or othernon-sterile liquids. However, cleaning the lead rubber blankets or leadrubber slats is complex and expensive, since it is imperative not todamage the lead sheets during the work. In particular the conventionalprocesses for sterilization by boiling or using an autoclave or bysteam-cleaning in a protective atmosphere with an appropriate gasmixture are not suitable, since the screening material could be damagedby high temperatures and hence the protective function could no longerbe reliably guaranteed.

A further problem area lies in the fact that the screening blankets usedfor lower body protection are of a fixed length, whereas the treatmenttable on which they are arranged and secured is adjustable in heightwithin a range of approximately 70 cm to approximately 120 cm. Thismeans that the best possible protection over the entire height is onlyguaranteed by the lead rubber blankets at a particular position of thetreatment table. However, if the table is at a higher position, thelower regions of the legs of the personnel carrying out the procedureare no longer protected. By contrast, if the table is in a lowerposition, the lead rubber blankets cover the entire height of the tablebut the lower ends of the blankets lie on the floor, and in thisposition they are at particular risk from soiling, since the floor inthe vicinity of the treatment or operating table is often covered withliquids. Furthermore, there is a risk of damage through stepping onthem.

Accordingly, the present invention has the object of providing a way ofkeeping radiation protection arrangements of the type described aboveclean and sterile in the simplest possible manner.

This object is achieved by a radiation protection arrangement inaccordance with claim 1 and by a cover in accordance with claim 19.

The arrangement according to the invention substantially comprises twoelements, on the one hand a screening element which comprises orcontains the radiation protection material, and on the other a coverwhich completely surrounds the screening element and may be pulled overthe screening element and completely separated from the screeningelement.

Using a cover which is matched in its shape to the screening element andyet completely separate therefrom ensures that the screening element,which can itself only be cleaned and sterilized in a complex andexpensive procedure, can be used in a sterile environment—such as anoperating theatre—without itself having to be cleaned intensively afterevery use. Instead, it is sufficient to take away the removable coverand replace it with a clean cover, which may even be done while theprocedure is under way. In this case, the cover comprises a materialwhich, like conventional theatre gowns, can be sterilized in a suitabledevice quickly and in a standard procedure. For the screening element,by contrast, it is sufficient to clean only the surface thereof and torub it down with a disinfectant. Moreover, the cover also provides acertain protection which protects the screening element fromunintentional damage—for example from a scalpel.

In accordance with a particularly advantageous further development ofthe present invention, the cover has means with the aid of which thearrangement comprising the cover and the screening element receivedtherein is adjustable in length, which is done by turning up or tying upthe cover. As a result of this, the length of the radiation protectionarrangement can be adjusted individually and can for example be matchedto the respective height position of the treatment table. The problemarea described above, that the arrangement is too short to guaranteeadequate protection or is too long and so lies on the floor, is thusobviated.

The arrangement can be fixed in the turned-up form for example by pressstuds arranged on the cover, a hook-and-burr closure or a tie closure.The important point here is that the elements required to fix thearrangement are arranged exclusively on the cover and not on thescreening element. This is because it is disadvantageous to attach pressstuds or other closures to the screening element, because this coulddamage the lead sheet required to screen the X-rays.

The invention will be explained below in more detail with reference tothe attached drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an angiographic workstation at which the use of radiationprotection arrangements according to the invention is provided;

FIG. 2 a shows the individual parts of a first example embodiment of aradiation protection arrangement according to the invention;

FIG. 2 b shows the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2 a, in the assembledcondition;

FIG. 3 shows a second example embodiment of a radiation protectionarrangement according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a further example embodiment of a radiation protectionarrangement which comprises a plurality of slats; and

FIG. 5 shows a fourth example embodiment of a radiation protectionarrangement for use on a radiation protection panel.

FIG. 1 shows an angiographic workstation which is generally designatedby the reference numeral 1 and whereof the essential components are aheight-adjustable table 2 for the patient to lie on and an X-rayarrangement 3. The X-ray arrangement 3 is mounted to pivot in order toensure as flexible as possible an alignment of the X-ray generatortowards the patient 4. As a consequence of this, X-rays and thecorresponding scattered radiation can be emitted in a wide variety ofdirections.

In order, therefore, to make it possible to protect a person 5 workingat the workstation 1 from this radiation as comprehensively as possible,in addition to the clothing for protection against radiation worn by theperson 5, additional measures to protect against radiation are provided.In the present case, these comprise a radiation protection panel 6 whichis intended to enable the upper body and head of the doctor 5 carryingout treatment to be screened. Moreover, a lower body protectionarrangement 10 is provided which is secured to the lateral region of thetreatment table 2. This lower body protection arrangement 10 comprisesan upper part 12, which is arranged on a carrier rail 11 secured to thetable 2, and a plurality of slats 13 which are secured to the undersideof the carrier rail 11 and are arranged to overlap laterally next to oneanother. The overlapping arrangement of the slats 13 results in aparticularly high level of flexibility of the arrangement, which makesvery effective radiation protection possible.

So that the radiation protection slats 13, which comprise lead sheetsembedded in PVC, do not have to be cleaned or sterilized themselves, inaccordance with the invention a cover is provided which can be pulledover the slats 13 to protect them. This will be explained below withreference to a first example embodiment in FIG. 2 a.

The lower body protection arrangement 20 illustrated in its individualparts in FIG. 2 a comprises, first of all, the carrier rail 21 alreadymentioned above, to the upper side whereof an upper part 22 is to besecured. Towards the underside there extends a lead rubber blanket 23.The upper part 22 and the lead rubber blanker 23 have the lead sheetsencased in PVC which have been mentioned above and each represent ascreening element for screening the X-rays. The lead sheets themselvesin this case have a lead equivalence value of at least 0.5 mm to makeadequate screening possible.

The upper part 22 and the lead rubber blanket 23 should, as alreadymentioned, not or only infrequently be cleaned or sterilized, since thiscan only be carried out in a highly complex operation if the lead sheetsare not to be damaged. For this reason, in each case covers 24 and 25are provided which can be pulled onto the two screening elements 22 and23 in a simple manner and which, for cleaning and sterilization, can betaken off again and taken away.

The cover 24 for the upper part 22 comprises a simple sheath which ispulled over the upper part 22. The cover 25 for the lower lead rubberblanket 23 also comprises a sheath which is approximately matched in itsdimensions to the size of the lead rubber blanket 23 and is open to oneside, and which is pulled onto the blanket 23 and secured to the carrierrail 21 by means of securing elements 26. In the example illustrated,the securing elements are formed by a plurality of cords 26, by means ofwhich the cover 25 is bound firmly to the carrier rail 21. As analternative to this, the cover 25 could, however, also be secured to thecarrier rail 21 by means of a hook-and-burr closure or by press studs.

A particular feature of the cover 25 for the lower lead rubber blanket23 consists in the provision of a plurality of rows of press studs 27.These can be used to turn up the cover 25 with the lead rubber blanket23 received therein and to fix it in this turned-up position. The pressstuds 27 thus represent a fixing device which makes it possible toadjust the length of the radiation protection arrangement comprising thelead rubber blanket 23 and the cover 25. As a result, the overall lengthcan be matched to the height of the treatment table, so that on the onehand radiation screening is achieved over the entire height, and on theother the possibility of the radiation protection arrangement lying onthe floor and possibly being contaminated there by liquids is prevented.The important point is that the press studs 27 are arranged exclusivelyon the cover 25 and not on the lead rubber blanket 23 itself, sincethis—and in particular the lead sheet—would be damaged if buttons orsimilar elements were attached thereto.

FIG. 2 a shows the radiation protection arrangement 20 in the assembledcondition. As can be seen from the illustration, the screening elements22 and 23 are completely surrounded by the covers 24 and 25, with theresult that the screening elements 22 and 23 cannot themselves be soiledor contaminated. By contrast, the covers 24 and 25, which are preferablymade from a material which is easy to clean and sterilize, for examplethe green cotton generally used in operating theaters, may be removedquickly and cleaned in a standard procedure. In this context, it ispossible to change the covers 24 and 25 in the minimum of time, inparticular even while treatment is still going on.

FIG. 3 shows a further example embodiment of a radiation protectionarrangement 30 according to the invention. In the present case, thiscomprises three individual elements each having a carrier rail 31 a to31 c, on the undersides whereof lead rubber blankets 33 a to 33 c arearranged. On the upper side of the first carrier rail 31 a, a radiationprotection upper part 32 a having a corresponding cover 34 a isfurthermore provided. Here again, each individual lead rubber blanket 33a to 33 c is provided with its own cover 35 a to 35 c which correspondsapproximately to the size of the corresponding lead rubber blanket 33 ato 33 c in its width and length. Provided on the upper sides of thecovers 35 a to 35 c are, once again, tapes 36 for securing them to thecarrier rails 31 a to 31 c.

All three covers 35 a to 35 c have the fixing devices mentioned above,with the aid of which the length of the radiation protection arrangementcan be varied. The first cover 35 a has—like the cover illustratedearlier in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b—press studs 37. As an alternative to this,however, it is also possible to use a hook-and-burr closure, asillustrated in the middle arrangement. In this case, the cover 35 b hastwo hook-type strips 38 which extend over the entire height so that whenthe lower end is flapped up the cover 35 b can be fixed in the desiredposition, with the lead rubber blanket 33 b, in a simple manner. A thirdpossibility for adjusting the length consists in the use of ties 39, asprovided in the case of the third cover 35 c.

A particularly preferred example embodiment of a lower body protectionarrangement is illustrated in FIG. 4. The radiation protectionarrangement 40 illustrated here is characterized in that there arearranged on the underside of the carrier rail 41 not a single leadrubber blanket but, rather, a plurality of individual lead rubber slats43 arranged laterally next to one another but overlapping. Thisoverlapping arrangement of the slats 43 on the one hand makes effectiveprotection from radiation possible, but on the other this arrangement isparticularly flexible, with the result that optimum radiation protectionis ensured even in the greatest variety of situations. Furthermore, anupper part 42 for radiation protection is once again provided, having asingle cover 44.

In the present case, the cover for the individual slats 43 is formed byan arrangement which comprises a plurality of sheaths 45 arrangedlaterally next to one another and matched in their dimensions to theslats 43. The sheaths 45 are only connected to one another on theirupper sides, by way of a common cuff 45 a. Provided on this cuff 45 aare, once again, the securing tapes 46 for securing the entire cover tothe mounting strip 41.

In this preferred example embodiment too, the intention is to make itpossible to adjust the height of the radiation protection arrangement,which is once again done by using press studs 47. Because each sheath 45has its own press studs 47, the individual slats can even be adjusted inlength individually. It goes without saying that hook-and-burr closuresor ties could, however, also be used for height adjustability, asdescribed above.

Finally, FIG. 5 is intended to illustrate a further example applicationof the radiation protection arrangement according to the invention. Inthis case, a screening element which is arranged on the underside of aradiation protection panel 6, as also illustrated in FIG. 1, is to becovered. The overall arrangement resulting from this is illustrated inFIG. 5.

Just as in the case of the lower body protection systems, a screeningelement 52 is secured to the lower edge of the radiation protectionpanel 6 and has the effect of an additional screening of the X-rays.This screening element once again comprises a PVC blanket including alead sheet and enclosed within a cover 54. The cover 54 substantiallycorresponds in its construction to the covers provided for the lowerbody protection devices. One difference, however, consists in the factthat in this application there is no need for the radiation protectionarrangement 50 to be height-adjustable, and accordingly fixing devicesin the form of press studs, hook-and-burr closures or ties are notrequired. In this case too, however, there is the advantage that thecover 54 can be cleaned and sterilized in a simple manner withoutputting any stress on the sensitive screening element 52. It shouldfurthermore be noted that, on the underside of the radiation protectionpanel 6, a radiation protection arrangement in accordance with theexample embodiment of FIG. 4, that is to say with a plurality ofoverlapping slats, could also be provided, which is particularlyadvantageous if the lower edge of the panel 6 is not a straight line butis, for example, curved.

As a result of the present invention, it thus becomes possible to keepradiation protection arrangements clean and sterile in a simple manner.In particular in the case of lower body protection devices, it moreoveropens up the possibility of making them adjustable in length and henceof adapting them to different situations.

1. A radiation protection arrangement for screening radiation emitted bya radiation source, in particular an X-ray source, having a screeningelement which comprises or includes a radiation protection material, anda cover which is matched in shape to the screening element andcompletely surrounds the latter, it being possible to pull the coverover the screening element and completely separate it therefrom, andwherein, for the purpose of altering the length, there is provided afixing device such that the cover, with the screening element arrangedtherein, is turnable up in at least one direction and fixed in theturned-up arrangement.
 2. A radiation protection arrangement accordingto claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a material which can besterilized using a suitable device or a suitable process.
 3. A radiationprotection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the fixing deviceis formed by press studs.
 4. A radiation protection arrangementaccording to claim 1, wherein the fixing device is formed by ahook-and-burr closure.
 5. A radiation protection arrangement accordingto claim 1, wherein the fixing device is formed by a tie closure.
 6. Aradiation protection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the coverhas means for securing it to a carrier element which holds the screeningelement.
 7. A radiation protection arrangement according to claim 6wherein the means for securing are tapes.
 8. A radiation protectionarrangement according to claim 6, wherein the means for securing arepress studs.
 9. A radiation protection arrangement according to claim 6,wherein the means for securing are hook-and-burr closures.
 10. Aradiation protection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein thescreening element is formed by a single blanket which includes an X-rayscreening material, and the cover is formed by a sheath which is matchedin its dimensions to the blanket and is open to one side.
 11. Aradiation protection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein thescreening element comprises a plurality of slats arranged next to oneanother and including an X-ray screening material and are secured at oneend to a common carrier element, the cover having a plurality ofelongate sheaths for receiving a respective slat and connected to oneanother at one end by way of a common cuff.
 12. A radiation protectionarrangement according to claim 11, wherein the slats are arranged suchthat they overlap.
 13. A radiation protection arrangement according toclaim 11, wherein each sheath has its own fixing device for the purposeof altering the length.
 14. A radiation protection arrangement accordingto claim 1, wherein the screening element includes a lead sheet or leadrubber blanket surrounded by a PVC cover.
 15. A radiation protectionarrangement according to claim 14, wherein the screening element has alead equivalence value of approximately 0.5 mm.
 16. A radiationprotection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein it is arranged onthe underside of a radiation protection panel.
 17. A radiationprotection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein it forms a lowerbody protection arranged to the side of a medical operating or treatmenttable.
 18. A cover for a screening element which comprises or includes aradiation protection material and is provided for use in a radiationprotection arrangement for screening radiation emitted by a radiationsource, in particular an X-ray source, the cover being constructed suchthat it can be pulled over the screening element and completelyseparated therefrom again.
 19. A cover according to claim 18, whereinthe cover comprises a material which can be sterilized using a suitabledevice or a suitable process.
 20. A cover according to claim 18, whereinfor the purpose of altering the length, the cover can be turned up in atleast one direction and fixed in the turned-up arrangement using afixing device.
 21. A cover according to claim 18, wherein the cover is asheath which is matched in its dimensions to the screening element andis open to one side.
 22. A cover according to, claim 18, wherein thecover has a plurality of elongate sheaths which are connected to oneanother at one end by way of a common cuff.
 23. A cover according to,claim 22, wherein each sheath has its own fixing device for the purposeof altering the length.